THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF 23 APRIL 1968

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: President's Daily Brief 1961-1969
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0005974395
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 13
• Document Creation Date: September 16, 2015
• Document Release Date: September 16, 2015
• Publication Date: April 23, 1968

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The President's Daily Brief
23 April 1968
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DAILY BRIEF
23 APRIL 1968
1. Vietnam
2. Soviet Union
There continue to be a good many
ripples from the prospect of peace
talks. Saigon and Seoul are drawing
closer together. Thieu hopes to visit
South Korea after his US trip, and the
South Koreans have offered Saigon the
service of an experienced adviser for
any peace discussions. In Vientiane,
Souvanna Phouma has told Ambassador
Sullivan that he thinks the subject of
Laos should be raised early in US -
North Vietnamese negotiations.
* * *
Some of the North Vietnamese units
in I Corps appear to be returning to
their regular operating areas.
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3. Iran
4. Jerusalem
A showdown between Iran and the
Western oil consortium has been averted
through a scheme Ambassador Meyer de-
scribes as an "adroit placement of mir-
rors." Under this arrangement, oil
revenues will be calculated on the Ira-
nian calendar year beginning 20 March.
This ignores the first quarter of 1968
when production was low and makes it
appear that Iranian demands are being
met.
This gimmick, however, only gets
the consortium off the hook until
haggling starts again this fall over
next year's revenues.
The Israelis seem determined to
celebrate their Independence Day with
a military parade in occupied Jerusa-
lem on 2 May. Arabs in Jerusalem see
this as another example of Israel
grinding in the conqueror's heel. If
the Israelis go ahead with their plans,
there will be a risk of terrorist bomb-
ings or other violence.
5.
Congo
Two DC-6s are now in Rwanda, and,
with any luck at all, the mercenaries
3 /g?,
should be on their way out of Africa
tomorrow.
6.
Dominican
Dominican leftists are planning
Republic
demonstrations on 28 April to mark the
third anniversary of the US landings.
Although security forces seem capable
of preventing serious disorder, there
could be some trouble.
7,
Soviet Union
The Soviet military presence in
the Middle East has more and more the
look of permanency. The evidence is
examined in today's Annex.
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8. Poland
9. West Berlin
10. Libya
The purge of Jewish party members
is still in full swing. These purges
are ostensibly aimed only at "Zion-
ists"--Jews "disloyal" to Poland. More
broadly, however, the issue is being
used by young, impatient party elements
to oust supporters of Gomulka's stag-
nant leadership and hasten the take-
over of a new "Polish" generation.
The Nazi pogroms in Poland caused
the death of three million Jews. Only
some 30,000 remained at the end of
World War II. But the high proportion
of Jews within the Communist leadership
during most of the postwar period has
tended to perpetuate latent anti-Semi-
tism among the people, even though most
of the Jews in Gomulka's regime are
moderates rather than Stalinists.
Anti-Semitism has always been prev-
alent in Poland, and a handy political
smokescreen. Most Poles today probably
regard the present campaign as part of
a process to loosen the grip of Gomulka's
old guard--which they regard as desirable--
rather than as persecution of the Jews.
They often remark that it is simply a
matter of "one Communist trying to get
another."
The US Mission has been informed
that Senator Robert Kennedy has de-
clined the invitation to speak in Berlin
on May Day. He said the Indiana primary
compelled him to remain in the US.
Libyan Prime Minister Bakkush came
home from a recent visit to Paris with
agreements providing for French assist-
ance in a wide range of fields, includ-
ing oil exploitation, education, and com-
munications. The French presence in
Libya will be considerably expanded. The
French also offered arms, but Bakkush
made no commitment on that subject. Am-
bassador Newsom believes the French are
moving with an eye toward eventually re-
placing US influence in the country.
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ANNEX
Soviet Military Presence in the Middle East
We estimate that the number of Soviet military
personnel in Egypt has now risen to as high as 2,000.
There may be as many as 1,000 in Syria. These ad-
visers have evidently been placed in the Egyptian
and Syrian armies down to the battalion level.
The Soviet Navy is also playing an increasing
role in the area. The forty-plus Soviet ships now
in the eastern Mediterranean comprise the most
heavily armed force Moscow has ever sent there.
Soviet vessels clearly intend to use Egyptian and
Syrian ports for resupply and limited maintenance.
Defense Minister Grechko toured the Iraqi naval
base on the gulf last month. The Iraqis are said
to have been pressing for Soviet naval assistance
to help them get a bigger voice in gulf affairs after
British withdrawal in 1971.
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Grechko was also in Egypt and Syria last month
and other high Soviet officers have been making
frequent visits. Another Soviet gesture was the
first goodwill flight of Soviet bombers to Syria
earlier this month.
Moscow's principal purpose in all this, of
course, is to demonstrate its resolve to rebuild
the Arab military forces. While Soviet assistance
would almost certainly stop short of open partici-
pation in a new outbreak of hostilities with Israel,
Moscow clearly expects political dividends from
its military aid commitments. Moscow sees a long
future for its military presence in the area.
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i.
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FOR THE PRESIDENT'S EYES ONLY
1.) Special Daily Report on North Vietnam
2.) North Vietnamese Reflections of U S
Political Attitudes
Top Secret
16
23 April 1968
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Special Daily Report on North Vietnam
for the President's Eyes Only
23 April 1968
I. NOTES ON THE SITUATION
* * *
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More
on Paris
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as Acceptable Site:
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the Chinese think that the following are the
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main reasons these North Vietnamese favor Paris:
--The French press "will give very favorable
coverage" to the North Vietnamese position.
--Hanoi's-representatives in Paris feel they
are sufficiently equipped to support whomever North
Vietnam sends to deal with the Americans.
--Communications with Hanoi are adequate.
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* * *
More Chinese Transportation Experts on the Way:
A recent intercept shows that 15 highway specialists,
six railroad experts, and four factory specialists
are being sent to North Vietnam.
* * *
Hanoi Bridges: Both sides of the center por-
tion of the Paul Doumer Bridge were lighted and be-
ing repaired last Tuesday night, according to the
Western traveler who frequently visits Hanoi. He
also reported seeing vehicles crossing the Canal
des Rapides Bridge without blackout lights. All
bridges in the Hanoi area were fully illuminated.
* * *
II. NORTH VIETNAMESE REFLECTIONS OF US POLITICAL
ATTITUDES ON THE WAR ?
There is nothing of significance to report.
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